Gradometer



D. P. CORCORAN.

GRADOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.4. I920,

L gjm o ented J ly 111, 1922.

FATENT @FFECCEO DANIEL P. GORCORAN, 0F GRIDLEY, CALIFORNIA.

GOMETER.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 111, ieee.

Application filed September a, 1920. Serial No. 408,162.

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that I, DANIEL P. CoRooRAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grldley, in the county of Butte and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gradometers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved gradometer.

Qne object of this invention is to provide an instrument which is especially applicable for use on automobiles and like vehicles for indicating the grade percentage along which the vehicle is ascending or descending.

Anothe r object of this invention is to prov 1de gravity means in connection with a portlon of the mechanism of the gradometer which'will cause the same to be retained in anormally vertical position no matter what the degree of grade may be over which the vehicle is traveling.

Further objects of this invention are to provide means for readily adjusting the weight element of the mechanism to suit different dash slopes of various types of cars, and to provide tension means to compensate for vibration occuring during the movement of the vehicle.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a gradome-ter of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, strong, durable, reliable in operation and an instrument in which the parts are easily repaired or replaced when necessary.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the im roved instrument,

igure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2of Figure 3,

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section taken on line 3-3'of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the cone shaped indicator with calibrations provided thereon.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a suitable casing, referably cylindrical in form, which is c osed at one end and terminates at the opposite end in a flange portion 6, and has likewise intermediately disposed, in its side walls, openings 7. The flange portion 6 is suitably attached to the dash board of a vehicle by fastening means, preferably screws, and it will be observed that the casing is provided with a suitable flanged top 8 which receives a covering plate 9. In the flanged top 8 a bayonet slot 10 and a stud 10' are provided to permit the top 8 to be detachably fastened to the casing 5. A square opening 11 is formed in the covering plate 9 and has mounted therein transparent material, prefably glass, in order that the driver my observe the calibrations which are disclosed to his view.

A vertically disposed shaft 12 is supported Within the body of the casing 5 by upper and lower retaining elements or brackets 13 and 14, the lower bracket 14 being permanently attached to the walls of the casing, while the upper bracket 13 is readily detached from the same. This construction allows the shaft to be easily placed within the casing when the mechanism of the gradometer is assembled.

Loosely mounted on the shaft'l2 is a bevel gear 15, which has integrally associated therewith a bearing 16 and a cone shaped element or indicator 17, which three last mentioned elements act as a unit, as will be hereinafter more fully described. It will be observed that the indicator 17 is calibrated to indicate grades during the ascent or descent of the vehicle, there being provided numerals of increasing grade indications inopposite directions from zero, the grades in this indicator ranging from zero to 50 on the respective sides of the indicator.

It will be observed that the calibrations are formed on the perimeter of the conical indicator and will pass before the opening 11 of the coveringplate 9.

For the purpose of holding the shaft 12 in position in order that the calibrations on the indicator may register within the opening 11 provided in the covering plate 9, adjustable collars 18 are provided and encircle the shaft 12. Intermediately disposed on the shaft 12 and suit-ably attached thereto by a set screw 19, is a clamping element 20 which embraces the shaft 12. This clampingelement 20 has formed thereon a balance wheel which includes an upper gear portion 21 and a lower quadrant member 22. it will be noted that the gear portion 21 meshes with the gear 15.

Suitably attached to the quadrant 22 is a weight element '23 which has associated therewith an adjustable screw 24. This weight element is preferably made of light material and has the adjustable screw associated therewith in order to allow for differences in the dash slopes of various types of cars. It will be observed that when the gradometer is attached to any particular type of car, the weight can be adjusted in order that the zero point of the calibrated scale will register with an arrow or pointer 25 disposed on the face of the covering plate 9.

Integrally formed with the clamping element 20 is a horizontal shaft 26 which has suitably disposed on one end thereof a disk 27. Upon the balance wheel pins 28 are provided. En'circling the horizontal shaft 26 is a tension device 29, preferably a two way spring, which is connected to the pins 28 at one end and to the disk 27 at the opposite end. This two way spring functions to compensate for vibrations of the vehicle and serves to retain the weight 23 in its normal position.

When a vehicle, on the dash board of which the gradometer is mounted, is climbing an inclined road bed the gear portion 21 meshing with the teeth of the gear 15,

will cause rotary movement to be imparted to the indicator 17 and thereby indicate to the driver the angle of inclination of the vehicle as indicated by the arrow 25 on the front plate of the casing 9. On the other hand, upon descending an inclination in the road bed, a reverse movement of the cone shaped indicator will be accomplished whereby the calibrated scale on the opposite side of the zero mark will register the angle of declination.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

support said balance wheel on said verticalshaft, said means including a clamping element and an integrally formed horizontal shaft, a tension element encircling said shaft, and an index adjacent the aperture of the covering plate of said casing and adapted to cooperate with the calibrated conical indicator to register the grade of the road bed along which said vehicle is travcling.

2. A gradometer including a casing provided with an apertured covering plate and adapted to be secured to a vehicle, a vertical shaft mounted within said casing, means associated with said shaft and adapted to 1'0- tate thereon, said means including a gear wheel, a bearing and a calibrated conical indicator, a balance wheel comprising a gear portion and a quadrant member, said gear portion meshing with the gear wheel mounted on said shaft and imparting rotary movement thereto, means adapted to support said balance wheel on said vertical shaft, said means including a clamping element and an integrally formed horizontal shaft, a tension element encircling said shaft, an adjustable weight element associated with the quadrant member of said balance wheel to hold said balance wheel in a normally vertical position, and an index adjacent the aperture of the covering plate of said casingand adapted to register with the calibrations of said conical indicator to designate the angles of inclination and declination of said vehicle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DANIEL P. CORCORAN. 

